How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

"A tale that begins with a beet will end with the devil", wrote Tom Robbins in Jitterbug Perfume. For good reason too - cooking with red beets leaves the hands looking blood-stained. A chef who slaughters beets cannot hide - only run from the scene of their culinary crime!

Despite their nefarious look, beets' blood-red color and earthy complexity give rise to numerous health benefits. The pleasing sweetness and warm satisfaction of beets have earned them a sentimental role in the traditional meals of Eastern Europe.

Beets are sweet with an earthy, bitter aftertaste. When taken raw, they are sharper, hotter, more fibrous and astringent. Raw beets are tougher and more feverish overall. One of our students noticed this quality, reporting, "My heartbeat increased almost immediately after I ate beets. Twenty minutes later my face turned red".

When cooked, beets become more mellow. Sweet and less astringent, the flesh becomes soft and "easy to chew".

Earthy and sweet, beets are the perfect cleansing and nourishing option for early spring. Those with a heat-imbalance or depleted digestion could benefit more from cooked beets.

About The Plant

Red beetroot originated from Beta Vulgaris, a native plant of Southern Europe. It is an easy-to-grow root which doesn't fall victim to many pests. This, and the fact that beetroot only takes about 55-65 days to be ready for harvest, explains the popularity of beets in tougher climates.

Part of the amaranth family, beets were domesticated in the ancient Middle East, and were grown by the ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptians. Though they were initially cultivated for their leaves, rather than their roots.

The use of the vivid, red roots did not begin until the Roman era and the medicinal use of beets only gained popularity from the Middle Ages. They were specifically prized for helping digestive and blood conditions. The deep red hue also made beets popular for coloring wine at this time!

Today a wide, and beautifully colorful, variety of beets are available - from the well-known red, to golden yellow, to candy-stripe pink. Every variant is packed with nutrients and a good source of iron, fiber and folate. They also contain manganese, potassium and VitaminC.

Beets' red color is commonly used as a food dye, while white beets are the main source of table sugar!

Footnote: The information for this article was in part gathered from a 2022 study and survey of 19 students of Ayurveda who experimented with beets. During the study, students ate beets for 3 days and journaled the pharmacological effects. This study was sponsored by the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda, and specifically the Mastering Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition certification course.

Boosts Oxygen, Blood Flow, and Athletic Endurance

During digestion, nitrates in beets are converted to nitric oxide, which improves oxygen delivery and can increase endurance. As a 2017 study reported, "those who drank beet juice prior to exercise were able to exercise longer, showing increased cardiorespiratory endurance." (Source: Domínguez R, Cuenca E, Maté-Muñoz JL, et al. Effects of beetroot juice supplementation on cardiorespiratory endurance in athletes. A systematic review. Nutrients. 2017;9(1). doi:10.3390/nu9010043)

11 participants in our study reported having more energy after eating beets, while only 1 had less energy. "I noticed the beets make me feel more alert, like I have more blood running through me". Another participant noted, "They give me energy. They make me feel strong", and "I felt active and fit, the energy levels were higher".

A reason for this effect could be because nitric oxide improves blood flow to the muscles, brain and other organs by dilating blood vessels. This is a key action in improving endurance.

In fact, nitric oxide is one of the most crucial molecules for the health of our blood vessels. It reduces blood pressure, strengthens the internal lining of the heart and vessels (endothelial function) and acts as a blood thinning cholagogue.

Students felt this improvement in blood flow through their bodies, commenting there was "more blood running through me" and "spreading heat in my body". Others remarked, "I seem to have more blood in this menstrual period." Another said, "my blood feels nourished".